How Often Do You Need to Water a Date Palm?

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The date palm tree (Phoenix dactylifera) is a tropical tree grown in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. Date palms like moist, fertile soil, but don’t tolerate wet feet, so be sure to plant them in well-drained soil and water frequently. Watering schedules are similar for this tree and similar date palms, such as the Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis) and the miniature date palm (Phoenix roebelenii), both of which are also hardy in USDA zones 9 to 11.

Watering Schedule

Water your date palm deeply and thoroughly immediately after planting to remove any air bubbles from the soil. Water daily for two weeks after planting to help the plant get established. Over the next two months, gradually reduce the amount of water you give the palm so that you are watering only twice per week. Continue watering two or three times a week after that. In the winter, reduce your watering to once or twice a month. Remember to factor rainfall into your watering schedule and adjust accordingly to avoid watering too much. The top of the soil should be allowed to dry out between waterings, but the soil below the surface should not. Mature trees do have some drought tolerance, but palms always look best with adequate water. Mist indoor palms three to four times a week to provide adequate humidity.

About the Author

Writing professionally since 2008, Michelle Miley specializes in home and garden topics but frequently pens career, style and marketing pieces. Her essays have been used on college entrance exams and she has more than 4,000 publishing credits. She holds an Associate of Applied Science in accounting, having graduated summa cum laude.

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Miley, Michelle. "How Often Do You Need to Water a Date Palm?" Home Guides | SF Gate, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/need-water-date-palm-87194.html. Accessed 24 May 2019.

Miley, Michelle. (n.d.). How Often Do You Need to Water a Date Palm? Home Guides | SF Gate. Retrieved from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/need-water-date-palm-87194.html

Miley, Michelle. "How Often Do You Need to Water a Date Palm?" accessed May 24, 2019. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/need-water-date-palm-87194.html

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